The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, plans to travel to Kiev in the coming days to meet with the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenksi, and to convey to him personally the solidarity of Spain in the face of the Russian invasion of his country.
Government sources informed EFE of Sanchez's trip to Kiev after the Spanish chief executive announced Monday that Spain would reopen its embassy in Ukraine “in a few days”.
A gesture he explained as a sign of the commitment of the Government and Spanish society to the Ukrainian people.
The exact date of Sanchez's trip to Kiev has not yet been revealed for security reasons and because the details of the visit are being finalized.
But it is expected that, in addition to meeting Zelenski, it will coincide with the day when the Spanish embassy will be reopened in the Ukrainian capital.
With this trip, Sánchez will join the same gesture that other leaders of countries of the European Union and the Community institutions have made, such as the head of the European Commission, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
All have expressed support for Ukraine, and during Von der Leyen's visit to Kiev, the processing of this country's application for membership of the European Union was encouraged.
An accession that Spain supports and which Sánchez expressly referred to at the Congress of Deputies event held on 5 April, in which the Ukrainian president spoke via videoconference.
At that event, Sánchez said that Ukraine will be able to count on the support of Spain on its path of transformation to become part of a future of the European Union.
OTHER LEADERS WHO HAVE ALREADY TRAVELED
The first political leaders to travel personally to Kiev were the leaders of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki; from Slovenia, Janez Jansa; and from the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala. They traveled in mid-March, in their personal capacity, although they previously reported to the European Union.
On behalf of the EU institutions, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, traveled first — on 31 March — who paved the way for the head of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, and the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the Twenty-seven, Josep Borrell.
As early as April, Slovak Prime Ministers Eduard Heger and Austrian Foreign Minister Karl Nehammer, as well as the head of government of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, also traveled to the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky has in recent days publicly invited US and French presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron to Kiev, respectively, to Kiev, although his rejection of a visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also passed.
(with information from EFE and EP)
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